❓ Hon Murray Criddle questions the Water Corporation's infrastructure in Geraldton regarding fire safety standards, costs to businesses, and upgrade plans. The Minister's response indicates the infrastructure meets state standards and that fire safety requirements are the responsibility of property owners, not solely the Water Corporation.
AnsweredQoN 3763Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Water Corporation’s substandard water reticulation infrastructure within the City of Geraldton and ask -
(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Water Corporation’s water reticulation infrastructure within the City of Geraldton is not in conformance with fire standards in terms of volume and pressure?
(2) Is the Minister aware that the failure of Water Corporation to upgrade the aging infrastructure has resulted in property owners having to construct their own on site water storage and pumps to conform to current fire fighting regulation?
(3) Is it now Government policy that all property developers in Western Australia will have to install water tanks for the purposes of fighting fires?
(4) In the case of Geraldton, does the Minister believe it is reasonable to expect businesses to expend up to $300 000 each to meet the fire fighting regulations because of the Water Corporation’s failure to upgrade the 100 year old infrastructure?
(5) Will the Water Corporation upgrade the water pipes in the City of Geraldton so that all premises are adequately equipped to fight fires, and if so, when?
(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Water Corporation’s water reticulation infrastructure within the City of Geraldton is not in conformance with fire standards in terms of volume and pressure?
(2) Is the Minister aware that the failure of Water Corporation to upgrade the aging infrastructure has resulted in property owners having to construct their own on site water storage and pumps to conform to current fire fighting regulation?
(3) Is it now Government policy that all property developers in Western Australia will have to install water tanks for the purposes of fighting fires?
(4) In the case of Geraldton, does the Minister believe it is reasonable to expect businesses to expend up to $300 000 each to meet the fire fighting regulations because of the Water Corporation’s failure to upgrade the 100 year old infrastructure?
(5) Will the Water Corporation upgrade the water pipes in the City of Geraldton so that all premises are adequately equipped to fight fires, and if so, when?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 August 2006
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water Resources
Response time
7 days
(1)The Water Corporation's water supply network in Geraldton conforms to the design standards used throughout the State. (2) The Geraldton water supply is designed and maintained to a standard, the age of the assets has no relevance with regard to fire fighting regulations. If the scheme had all new assets, the situation would be no different. Property owners around the State are responsible for meeting the special fire fighting requirements. (3) Depending on the type and size of the development, property owners have always been required to undertake the necessary works to meet fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia. (4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(2) The Geraldton water supply is designed and maintained to a standard, the age of the assets has no relevance with regard to fire fighting regulations. If the scheme had all new assets, the situation would be no different. Property owners around the State are responsible for meeting the special fire fighting requirements. (3) Depending on the type and size of the development, property owners have always been required to undertake the necessary works to meet fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia. (4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(3) Depending on the type and size of the development, property owners have always been required to undertake the necessary works to meet fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia. (4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(2) The Geraldton water supply is designed and maintained to a standard, the age of the assets has no relevance with regard to fire fighting regulations. If the scheme had all new assets, the situation would be no different. Property owners around the State are responsible for meeting the special fire fighting requirements. (3) Depending on the type and size of the development, property owners have always been required to undertake the necessary works to meet fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia. (4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(3) Depending on the type and size of the development, property owners have always been required to undertake the necessary works to meet fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia. (4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(4) There has been no failure to upgrade infrastructure in Geraldton, the requirement for businesses to meet the cost of the specific fire fighting requirements is no different in Geraldton to the rest of the State or Australia. (5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
(5) The Water Corporation undertakes upgrades to water supply networks to meet levels of service as required under its Operating Licence. Only those properties being redeveloped are affected by the fire fighting requirements as specified by the Building Code of Australia.
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